Uber’s License to Operate in London Not Renewed

Ride-sharing company Uber has not had its
license to operate within the London area renewed. The city implemented the
measure after it was found that over 14,000 trips occurred with uninsured drivers.
The company was already on shaky ground, and Transport for London announced
that it would not be renewing the ride-share giant’s two-month probationary
extension license after the news came to light.

Risky Practices highlighted

Transport for London went on to state that
the reason they decided against renewing the license is that Uber has displayed
a consistent habit of putting passengers at risk. The administrative board
noted that Uber showed a pattern of failures, by which passengers in their care
were exposed to unnecessary risk. The decision won’t mean an immediate end to
Uber cars in the London area, and the company intends to appeal the decision.

Positive Improvements Made but Issues Still Exist

Uber has made positive steps in their
system, but Transport for London remains unconvinced that the company has the
safety of passengers at heart. The glaring incident that led to Uber’s license
being revoked was based on the company’s verification system. Due to a loophole
in the system’s design, unauthorized drivers could upload their photos to the
accounts of other drivers, where someone who wasn’t necessarily registered on
Uber’s system picked up drivers. The insurance doesn’t cover the unlicensed
driver, and Transport for London saw these breaches as proof that the company
broke the rules of its probationary license.

Unregulatable Business

The problem with Uber, according to the
general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, Steve McNamara, is
that the company’s drivers are unregulatable. The decision to strip the company
of their license was the right one in the interest of public safety, states
McNamara. Taxi drivers around the world have become incensed with the rise of
ride-sharing services like Uber, and this may be a victory they can savor for a
little while at least.